Ban this referee!

Paulo César de Oliveira took incompetence to new levels on Sunday sending off three players and awarding a non-existent penalty for Palmeiras in their 5X2 win away at Bragantino.

The game in the estádio Marcelo Stéfani for round 13 of the Campeonato Paulista also produced eleven yellows, innumerable freekicks and a catalogue of errors by an official who before this match was highly rated in Brazil.

Palmeiras succumbed to an early goal by Paulinho on the 16th minute. The first red came 5 minutes later when former Brazil keeper Marcos over-reacted to a challenge by Malaquias. Marcos appeared to kick the Bragantino midfielder when he was on the floor. Replays showed that the Palmeiras number one made little or no contact on Malaquias but Marcos still had to go. Nunes put away the resultant penalty.

With Bragantino two goals up and facing a ten-man Palmeiras, the points looked secure for Marcelo Veiga’s side.

But 37 minutes in, the Palestra Italia team got back into the match with a goal from Diego Souza.

It was then that Paulo César de Oliveira really got into the swing of things. Bragantino’s César Gaúcho got a second yellow after yet another dive by Valdivia.

Then, just before halftime, the former Chile international equalized for Palmeiras.

But things got even worse for Bragantino when Da Silva challenged Kléber on the edge of the area. The Palmeiras man went down and Da Silva got a straight red.

The next blunder came in the second period when Cris was adjudged to have brought down substitute Denilson in the area. TV pictures showed that the defender had made a clean challenge. Justice was done though, when Léo Lima sent his penalty into the stands.

However, Palmeiras were not to be denied. Leandro, and then two from Denilson – the second of which bounced over the unfortunate Gléguer in the Bragantino goal – ensured Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s team would move within touching distance of the top four.

Bragantino are certain to make an official complaint about Paulo César de Oliveira’s performance. But the minnows from Bragança Paulista are unlikely to get much joy from the Paulista Football Federation.

Last year, referee’s assistant Ana Paula de Oliveira (no relation) was dropped from the official’s roster after a couple of blunders against the influential, Botafogo.

Whether the same fate awaits Paulo César de Oliveira remains to be seen. But the official should be reprimanded for his gross ineptitude on Sunday.